Post by Lee on May 16, 2014 16:20:29 GMT
....most of the tribes had increased in numbers somewhat, and a few had diminished a little, but the tribe of Simeon had lost almost two-thirds of its number, having been reduced from 59,300 to 22,200 (see Numbers, chapters 1 and 26).
No reason is given for the very considerable fall in the numbers of this particular tribe, and it is, therefore, a point on which we cannot be certain, but it would seem reasonable to assume that some major calamity had overtaken them to reduce their number in such a manner. Can we not connect this loss with the plague which slew 24,000 people, especially as Zimri, who is mentioned particularly by name, was a prince of this particular tribe, and who may have been mentioned representatively of the whole tribe?
Another interesting fact arises in the same connection later in the record. Moses was charged to “avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites” (Numbers 31:2). Having performed this task, Moses pronounced a blessing on the tribes (Deut. 33). All the tribes are mentioned with the exception of Simeon.
Here, again, dogmatism would be out of place, but it does seem significant that this tribe seems to be in disgrace for some reason. A reasonable supposition would be that Simeon was the offending tribe in the matter of Midian and Baal-peor. Such a combination of coincidences gathers value and importance from the fact that the incidents are connected with the record of a miracle—the plague which was divinely inflicted with such tragic results
. Vol. 77: The Christadelphian: Volume 77. 2001 (electronic ed.) (26). Birmingham: Christadelphian Magazine & Publishing Association.
No reason is given for the very considerable fall in the numbers of this particular tribe, and it is, therefore, a point on which we cannot be certain, but it would seem reasonable to assume that some major calamity had overtaken them to reduce their number in such a manner. Can we not connect this loss with the plague which slew 24,000 people, especially as Zimri, who is mentioned particularly by name, was a prince of this particular tribe, and who may have been mentioned representatively of the whole tribe?
Another interesting fact arises in the same connection later in the record. Moses was charged to “avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites” (Numbers 31:2). Having performed this task, Moses pronounced a blessing on the tribes (Deut. 33). All the tribes are mentioned with the exception of Simeon.
Here, again, dogmatism would be out of place, but it does seem significant that this tribe seems to be in disgrace for some reason. A reasonable supposition would be that Simeon was the offending tribe in the matter of Midian and Baal-peor. Such a combination of coincidences gathers value and importance from the fact that the incidents are connected with the record of a miracle—the plague which was divinely inflicted with such tragic results
. Vol. 77: The Christadelphian: Volume 77. 2001 (electronic ed.) (26). Birmingham: Christadelphian Magazine & Publishing Association.